Alex Reimer Opens Up About Being Gay In Boston

Ever hear of Alex Reimer? If you haven’t, we’re going to fill you in on why he’s someone sports fans should get to know…for many reasons.

Alex is a Boston-based sports writer, and his work has been seen in Forbes, Boston Magazine, and SB Nation. He’s appeared on MSNBC, makes regular radio appearances, and, oh, he happens to be gay. That’s not the big deal, though. It’s that he had a lengthy platform to discuss being gay in a very unlikely place: WEEI’s Kirk and Callahan Show (listen here.)

Why is that a bit strange? K&C (as they’re stylized), and the prior incarnation of “Dennis & Callahan” had a reputation for being quite the conservative bastion for morning radio consumers. Hosts Gerry Callahan and Kirk Minihane (and former host John Dennis) quite often veered off the Boston sports radio menu of worshipping Tawmmmy Brady, bashing Roger Goodell, and challenging anyone who didn’t believe Boston teams were wicked awesome. Callahan once objected to a Fenway Park appearance by the cast of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” asking team brass on-air if they received any complaints about “fruitcakes sashaying in front of children and families.” Minihane was suspended for calling Erin Andrews “a gutless bitch.” Some goes for when Dennis (and Callahan) compared Boston inner-city kids to an escaped gorilla.

The point is, this really isn’t the inclusive, welcome atmosphere one could expect to discuss life as a young gay man, from dating and sex lives to celebrity crushes. And in a gay-friendly city like Boston, one must still contend with a decently-sized conservative Catholic population, especially ones who stood by the morning show during those suspensions for what Trump supports might deem as “political correctness run amok.”

Yet Reimer did it, and from all appearances, it was a rousing success. The hosts enjoyed the rapport, the reaction from social media was positive, and Reimer was quite engaging.

We need more guys like Alex in sports journalism. Yeah, he’s gay. But that’s not all he is. He’s insightful. He’s smart. Guys like him prove there’s room for conversation in sports from all perspectives – and when it comes from someone as funny and thoughtful as Alex, everyone wins.